Volunteer Leave System

Having a volunteer leave system in place to encourage employees to participate in volunteer activities

In 1998, Sumitomo Corporation initiated a volunteer leave system to encourage its employees to participate in volunteer activities.

Under the system, each employee can take up to five days off per year, and by the end of fiscal 2017, a total of 170 employees had utilized the system to participate in volunteer activities, including those for natural environment conservation, local sports competitions, international exchange, and disaster relief activities.

VOICE:
I have volunteered to listen to patients hospitalized in the palliative care unit of a hospital. In the unit, a medical team composed of people from various fields gives support to patients to help them mitigate their physical and psychological pain. I am working to help these patients spend their precious remaining time as comfortably as possible by sincerely listening to them and their families.